Log Deflector With Removable Accessory Portion and Associated Method

ABSTRACT

A forestry work machine comprises a carrier and a log deflector for deflecting away from the carrier a log held by the forestry work machine. The log deflector comprises a base portion attached to a side of the carrier and an accessory portion projecting laterally outwardly from and removably attached to the base portion. An associated method is disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates log deflectors provided onboard forestry work machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Forestry work machines, such as forestry swing machines, may include a log deflector (also known as a log guard). Such a log deflector is used to deflect away from a carrier of the forestry work machine a log held by the forestry work machine. In this way, the log deflector reduces the risk that the log will strike the carrier.

Typically, the log deflector is located on a side of the carrier. However, a projecting portion of the deflector extending laterally outwardly relative to the carrier typically cannot be removed, adding to the overall width of the machine and reducing versatility and serviceability.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a forestry work machine. The forestry work machine comprises a carrier and a log deflector for deflecting away from the carrier a log held by the forestry work machine. The log deflector comprises a base portion attached to a side of the carrier and an accessory portion projecting laterally outwardly from and removably attached to the base portion. An associated method is disclosed.

The removability feature of the accessory portion facilitates repair, replacement, servicing, and versatility for the end user. In addition, since the accessory portion may represent the widest point on the machine, removal of the accessory portion may enhance use and/or transport of the machine in relatively narrow places.

The above and other features will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a forestry work machine with a log deflector mounted to the right side of the machine;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are perspective and front elevation views, respectively, showing the log deflector having a base portion and an accessory portion projecting from and removably attached to the base portion; and

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are perspective and front elevation exploded views, respectively, showing removal of the accessory portion from the base portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary forestry work machine 10 has a log deflector 12 for deflecting away from a carrier 14 of the machine 10 a log 11 held by the machine 10. The log deflector 12 may comprise a base portion 16 attached to a side 18 (e.g., right side in FIG. 1) of the carrier 14 and an accessory portion 20 projecting laterally outwardly from and removably attached to the base portion 16.

The forestry work machine 10 may be, for example, a forestry swing machine. In such a case, an articulated boom 22 for maneuvering a work tool 22 (e.g., a tree harvester head) at the end thereof may be attached to a super-structure 24 rotatably mounted on a carriage 26, the super-structure 24 and the carriage 26 exemplarily providing the carrier 14. The log deflector 12 may be mounted on the side of the carrier 26 opposite from a cab 28 for blocking a log 11 held by the work tool 22 from impacting the chassis 30 of the super-structure 24.

Referring to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the log deflector 12 is shown with the accessory portion 20 attached to the base portion 16. A number of fasteners 32 (e.g., four) may removably attach the accessory portion 20 to the base portion 16.

The base portion 16 may have a panel 34 and a hand rail 36 fixed thereto behind the panel 34. The panel 34 is attached to the carrier side 18 so as to extend laterally outwardly therefrom to provide protection for the super-structure 24. A number larger slots 38 and smaller slots 40 may be formed in the panel 34 to reduce wind resistance, among other possible uses.

The accessory portion 20 may have a post 42 and a post mount 44 removably attached to the panel 34 of the base portion 16. The post 42 may be attached to the post mount 44 so as to angle upwardly and laterally outwardly away from a corner 46 of the panel 34.

The post mount 44 may comprise a first wing 48 removably attached to the panel 34 along a top edge 50 of the panel 34 and a second wing 52 removably attached to the panel 34 along a laterally outer side edge 54 of the panel 34. The first and second wings 48, 52 may join to define a junction 56 from which the post 42 angles upwardly and laterally outwardly. As such, the accessory portion 20 may be generally Y-shaped. When the accessory portion 20 is attached to the base portion 16, the junction 56 may be located at the laterally outer corner 46 of the panel.

A number of fasteners 32 may be used to removably attach the first wing 48 to the panel 34 along the top edge 50 and the second wing 52 to the panel 34 along the side edge 54. Illustratively, there may be two fasteners 32 for each wing 48, 52. To receive each fastener 32, there may be corresponding fastener-receiving holes 58 (FIGS. 3 a and 3 b) formed in the wings 48, 52 and the panel 34 along the edges 50, 54. The fasteners 32 may be bolts, pins, or the like.

A hole 60 may be formed in the post 42 near the junction 56. This hole 60 may be used by a lifting device for lifting the accessory portion 20 during manufacturing or removal and re-attachment of the accessory portion 20.

The accessory portion 20 may be made of, for example, steel plates formed and welded to one another.

In operation, the accessory portion 20 may be joined to the panel 34 by extending the fasteners 32 through the respective fastener-receiving holes 58. The accessory portion 20 may be removed from the panel 34 by removing the fasteners 32 from the holes 58. Removal may involve removing fasteners 32 from each of the wings 48, 52 enabling removal of the post mount 44 from the panel 34. The post mount 44 may be removed from the panel 34 by removal of the first wing 48 from the top edge 50, the second wing 52 from the side edge 54, and the junction 56 from the corner 46. Afterwards, the accessory portion 20 may be re-attached to the based panel 34.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A forestry work machine, comprising: a carrier, and a log deflector for deflecting away from the carrier a log held by the forestry work machine, the log deflector comprising a base portion attached to a side of the carrier and an accessory portion projecting laterally outwardly from and removably attached to the base portion.
 2. The forestry work machine of claim 1, wherein the log deflector comprises at least one fastener removably attaching the accessory portion to the base portion.
 3. The forestry work machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a bolt.
 4. The forestry work machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of fasteners removably attaching the accessory portion to the base portion.
 5. The forestry work machine of claim 1, wherein the accessory portion comprises a post and a post mount removably attached to the base portion, and the post is attached to the post mount so as to angle upwardly and laterally outwardly away from the base portion.
 6. The forestry work machine of claim 5, wherein the base portion comprises a panel, and the post mount is removably attached to the panel.
 7. The forestry work machine of claim 6, wherein the post mount comprises a first wing removably attached to the panel along a top edge of the panel and a second wing removably attached to the panel along a laterally outer side edge of the panel.
 8. The forestry work machine of claim 7, wherein the first and second wings join to define a junction from which the post angles upwardly and laterally outwardly, the junction located at a laterally outer corner of the panel.
 9. The forestry work machine of claim 8, wherein the log deflector comprises a fastener removably attaching the first wing to the panel along the top edge thereof and a fastener removably attaching the second wing to the panel along the side edge thereof.
 10. The forestry work machine of claim 1, wherein the accessory portion is generally Y-shaped.
 11. A method of re-configuring a forestry work machine, the forestry work machine comprising a carrier and a log deflector for deflecting away from the carrier a log held by the forestry work machine, the log deflector comprising a base portion attached to a side of the carrier and an accessory portion projecting from and removably attached to the base portion, the method comprising removing the accessory portion from the base portion.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the base portion comprises a panel, the accessory portion comprises a post and a post mount from which the post angles upwardly and laterally outwardly, and the removing step comprises removing the post mount from the panel.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the post mount comprises a first wing and a second wing, and the removing comprises removing the first wing from a top edge of the panel and the second wing from a side edge of the panel.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second wings join to define a junction from which the post angles upwardly and laterally outwardly, and the removing comprises removing the junction from a corner of the panel.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the removing comprises removing a fastener from the first wing and a fastener from the second wing.
 16. The method of claim 11, comprising re-attaching the accessory portion to the base portion. 